simple cards - nataliegramleystamps

more color mondays – petunia pop, azure afternoon and gorgeous grape

by nataliegramleystamps | Jun 2, 2025 | card samples, color challenge, embossing folders, In Colors, more color mondays, my favorites, new catalog

Today’s More Color Mondays color challenge features Petunia Pop, Azure Afternoon, and Gorgeous Grape hues for a bright and cheery birthday card using the single stamp set Simple Birthday!

Measurements:
BASE: Azure Afternoon CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: 3 1/2″ x 4 3/4″
Petunia Pop CS: 3 5/8″ x 4 7/8″
Gorgeous Grape CS: 3 3/4″ x 5″

Stamp the Simple Birthday sentiment onto the 3 1/2″ x 4 3/4″ Basic White layer in Tuxedo Black Memento ink.

Using blending brushes on the Basic White layer add a strip of Petunia pop ink with a Blending Brush to the top third of the Basic White layer.
Then add Azure Afternoon ink with a Blending Brush to the middle third of the Basic White Layer.

Add Gorgeous Grape ink with a Blending Brush to the lower third of the Basic White layer.

Place the garden folder of the Glass and Garden mini embossing folder over the middle of the Basic White blended area and emboss with the flower images.

Using a Stampin’ Spritzer filled with water spray the surface of the Basic WHite layer with the Spritzer and dry the splatter effect created when the water lifts the ink color with a Heat Tool.

Adhere the Basic White blended layer to the Petunia Pop layer.

Adhere the layers to the Gorgeous Grape layer.

Adhere the front of the card base with the Garden embossing folder from the Glass and Garden embossing folders, right down the middle of the card front.

Add Stampin’ Dimensionals along the back of the Layered piece and adhere to the back of the card the White 1/4″ ribbon from the Botanical Textures Suite wrapping it around the middle of the card.
Adhere to the Azure Afternoon card front.

Adhere the Two Toned Sparkle Gems to the card front to finish off this lovely and easy Simple Birthday card.

Try this coloring technique with a larger sentiment from your stash and see what fun color combinations you can create – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

← beautiful gallery watercolor gate fold card sunrise sailing mask card →

more color mondays – secret sea, boho blue and cloud cover

by nataliegramleystamps | Apr 14, 2025 | card samples, color challenge, Designer Series Paper, embossing folders, fun fold, In Colors, masculine cards, more color mondays, new catalog, stamps ink paper, techniques

Today’s More Color Mondays color challenge is all about something old and something new – all in hues of blue! The 2023-2025 In Colors are making their last appearance and taking their final bows and going quickly as of writing this yesterday the Boho Blue ink, cardstock and refills, Pebbled Path cardstock and refill and Wild Wheat cardstock and refill are all SOLD OUT the rest are availabel while supplies last!

I am combining them with two debuting colors from the 2025-2027 In Colors collection: Secret Sea and Cloud Cover!

Also debuting on May 6 is a gorgeous new suite called Beautiful Gallery. The 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper steals the show with art gallery inspired painted and sketched designs.

Measurements:
BASE: Secret Sea CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 2 1/8″ and 4 1/2″
Boho Blue CS: (2) 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″
scrap for sentiment banner matte
Cloud Cover CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Basic White CS: 2″ x 5 1/5″ and
scrap for the sentiment piece
DSP: 6″ x 6″

I embossed the Cloud Cover layer in the beautiful new Damask Designs embossing folder and adhered it to one of the Boho Blue layers.

Base your cuts of the 6″ x 6″ DSP on the composition of the painting. You want to cut 3/4″ off of one end to make it 6″ x 5 1/4″ and then cut it into 2 pieces 2″ and 4″ basing the 4″ piece as the front of your finished card.

I cut the 2″ piece down to 1 1/4″ x 5″ as I wanted a little embossed layer border the entire way around the DSP layer.

Adhere the 2″ x 5″ DSP piece on the right-hand side of the embossed layer.

I used a 2″ x 4″ scrap piece of Basic White CS for the left-hand side of the embossed layer and stamped a sentiment from the Beautiful Motifs stamp set in Secret Sea ink – this is a beautiful deep misty navy quite different from our Night of Navy. I adhered it to the side of the DSP.

Adhere this embossed layer to the inside of the z-fold card.

Take the top portion of the 6″ x 6″ DSP piece that you initially cut off and cut it down to 3/4″ x 5 1/4″ and adhere to the 2″ x 5 1/4″ piece of Basic White CS to the middle. Adhere this piece to the middle layer of the z-fold card.

Take the 4″ x 5 1/4″ piece of DSP and adhere it to the second layer of Boho Blue CS then place adhesive on the front panel of the z-fold and attach this layer so that the top, left-hand side and bottom are equally aligned to the front z-fold panel.

Using the back side of this DSP scrap stamp a “just a note” sentiment onto the scrap in Secret Sea ink and cut a banner edge on the right-hand edge. Adhere to a scrap piece of Boho Blue CS and cut a banner edge on the right-hand side to match the DSP banner edge.
Pop up the sentiment piece onto Stampin’ DImensionals and place in the upper left-hand corner of the card front or elsewhere depending on the DSP composition you choose.

I added five new In Color embellishments in Cloud Cover and Secret sea to the card front there are also embellishments which are part of this Beautiful Gallery suite called Pressed Flower motifs and they would have gone nicely with this project as well. All of this will be available to customers in early May! Love it and want to have it now? Join my team and you are able to order it in the pre-order period!

I love the way that extended Z-fold fun fold cards look like a normal card but surprise you when they are opened!

Try this easy fun fold and go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Reminder this post is going live prior to the new In Colors being available so the sneak peak items will not be in the order icons below – these are only available currently to current demonstrators to order in a pre-order but will be available once the 2025-2026 Annual Catalog goes live May 6th,2025!

Product List

Boho Blue 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[161724]

$11.50

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$28.00

Bone Folder

[102300]

$8.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$8.00

Stampin' Seal+

[149699]

$12.00

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[138995]

$7.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$6.00

Mini Glue Dots

[103683]

$7.25

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

[144108]

$4.25

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

Paper Snips

[103579]

$12.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$130.00

← beautiful butterflies shaker card 2025 OnStage fun fold swap cards →

beautiful butterflies spotlight technique

by nataliegramleystamps | Apr 4, 2025 | card samples, my favorites, stamps ink paper, techniques

I have always loved this technique it was one of the first techniques I learned over 23 years ago when I was brand new to stamping and it is just as simple and impressive today!

TO SPOTLIGHT:a projected spot of light used to illuminate brilliantly a person, object, or group on a stage. b. : public notice or attention.
While the dictionary definition helps the crafting term uses color instead of light to illuminate a small piece of the entire stamped image to create notice or draw attention!

What better stamp set to use this technique with than the Beautiful Butterflies!

Measurements:
BASE: Crushed Curry CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
Basic Black CS: (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″ and 2 3/4″ x 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: (2) 3 3/4″ x 5″ and 2 1/2″ x 4″

Place the two Basic White layers of cardstock smaller one on top and evenly spaced in the center of the larger layer.

Place the uninked large butterfly image over the layers and decide where you would like to place two partial images of the butterfly.

Ink up the entire butterfly image with Memento ink and stamp over both layers of cardstock press VERY firmly as you are stamping on two separate pieces of cardstock and need to get the image on the bottom layer as well as the smaller top layer.
(Do not worry if the image does not stamp just to the outside of the smaller layer this will be covered by the smaller Basic Black layer)

Color the butterfly images on the smaller layer ONLY! This is your SPOTLIGHT area.

I used Daffodil Delight light first then dark then light Stampin’ Blends markers to blend.
Then I colored the rest of the butterfly images on the smaller layer with the Pumpkin Pie Stampin’ Blends in the same order as with the Daffodil Blends. I went over the entire image with the Dark Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Blends to finish the blending of the butterfly spotlighted image.
Adhere the smaller Basic White layer to the smaller Basic Black image.
Adhere the large Basic Black image to the Crushed Curry cardstock base and then adhere the larger Basic White layer to the card base over the Basic Black layer.

Adhere the smaller spotlighted layers to the larger Basic White layer matching up the images as best you can.
Stamp the sentiment in Tuxedo Black Memento ink in the center of the two spotlighted butterfly images.

Stamp two smaller butterflies in Tuxedo Black Memento ink on the top and bottom diagonally on the other large Basic White CS layer.
Adhere to the second 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic Black layer and after stamping the sentiment adhere to the inside of the card base.

Apply Wink of Stella to the colored wings.

Adhere embellishments to finish off this spotlighting technique card!

I just LOVE the way this turned out – this is just one way to spotlight – try stamping and spotlighting one of your stamped images and see what artwork of your own you can create – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Beautiful Butterflies Bundle (English)

[164615]

$59.25

Beautiful Butterflies Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[164608]

$24.00

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[121045]

$11.50

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$13.00

Crushed Curry 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[131199]

$11.50

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

[132708]

$8.00

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$28.00

Bone Folder

[102300]

$8.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$8.00

Stampin' Seal+

[149699]

$12.00

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[138995]

$7.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$6.00

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

[144108]

$4.25

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

Paper Snips

[103579]

$12.00

Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154883]

$11.00

Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154897]

$11.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$130.00

Beautiful Butterflies Hybrid Embossing Folder

[164614]

$42.00

Adhesive Backed Pearl Trio

[163319]

$7.50

← seaside wishes z with a side fold fun fold more color mondays - wild wheat, berry burst and summer splash →

cheerful daisies everyday arches simply stamped card

by nataliegramleystamps | Mar 26, 2025 | card samples, my favorites, stamps ink paper, techniques

Today’s simple white card is a favorite of mine – using the dies from Everyday Arches and Cheerful Daisies. Every coloring with blending brushes in Lemon Lime Twist and Summer Splash hues!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
4″ x 5 1/4″ for the Everyday Arches die
scraps for the Cheerful Daisies dies

Cut the three flowers and leaves die apart. Die cut the three flower details dies and the feathery twig. Adhere the detailed dies on top of the corresponding flowers.

Using Blending Brushes in Lemon Lime Twist and Summer Splash ink and color the center of the Everyday Arches die.
Stamp the birthday sentiment in Summer Splash ink at the top of the Everyday Arches die.
Adhere 5 Rhinestones Basic Jewels around the Everyday Arches die.
Adhere the die onto the Basic White CS Base.

Adhere the large flower in the upper right corner of the die.

Adhere the smaller flower below the large daisy. Adhere the leaf under the large daisy die.

Adhere the twig in the lower left hand corner.

Adhere the smallest flower die above the twig.

This simple card with it’s subtle pop of colors and lots of white space is an elegant birthday card. I love the simple stamping look of this card!

Try a white card with a subtle pop of color for your next project! Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List

Cheerful Daisies Bundle (English)

[161297]

$53.00

Cheerful Daisies Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[161290]

$25.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$13.00

Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad

[147145]

$9.00

Summer Splash Classic Stampin Pad

[163809]

$9.00

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$28.00

Bone Folder

[102300]

$8.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$8.00

Stampin' Seal+

[149699]

$12.00

Tear & Tape Adhesive

[138995]

$7.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$6.00

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

[144108]

$4.25

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

Paper Snips

[103579]

$12.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$130.00

Cheerful Daisies Dies

[161296]

$34.00

Everyday Arches Dies

[164629]

$29.00

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

[144220]

$6.00

← more color mondays - flirty flamingo, daffodil delight and boho blue february swap cards →

simple stamping – cut, flip and add a strip cards

by nataliegramleystamps | Feb 28, 2025 | card samples, card sketches, Designer Series Paper, Sale-a-bration, sketch challenge, stamps ink paper, techniques

When you first start stamping coming up with a card design can be the most difficult thing. Perusing pinterest and blogs is fun but time consuming and if you are in a pinch and need a card in a hurry this is a fun little trick for fast, easy and beautiful designer series paper cards.

One of the tings I LOVE about our Designer Series Paper beside the fact that the artist’s designs are gorgeous works of art is the fact that the artists strive to make the front and backs of each piece of DSP coordinate! This technique plays into that strength!

This card making technique is called cut-flip and add a strip I first saw it years ago from a fellow demonstrator named Patti B and I thank her for the original inspiration!

Measurements:
BASE: Colored CS to coordinate with the DSP
5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ scored at 4 1/4″
DSP: 4″ x 5 1/4″, 3/4″ x 4″
Basic White CS: scrap for the sentiments

I made four different cards in a flash with this technique! Three using the Fruit Salad Level One Sale-a-bration DSP and one using the Bloom Impressions Level One Sale-a-bration Rewards!

This one used Pumpkin Pie CS for the base.

I cut the ^” x 6″ piece of DSP to 6″ x 5 1/4″ cutting off the bottom 3/4″ then cut the remianing piece to a 4 ” x 5 1/4″ piece.

Cut the 4″ x 5 1/4″ DSP piece into two sections 2″ x 4″ and 3 1/4″ x 4″.

I adhered the larger piece to the bottom of the card front.

Flip the smaller DSP piece over to the opposite pattern and adhere above the other DSP piece on the top of the card base.

Because I was making multiple cards I took the remaining 3/4″ x 6″ pieces cut from the bottoms of each of the cards and swapped them so I would have a different pattern of DSP for the strip piece but you could easily add a coordinating color of cardstock as the strip as I do in the last example – your choice!
I adhered the DSP strip over the place where the two pieces of DSP meet.

I stamped a sentiment and border from the Hugs for You bundle in coordinating Pumpkin Pie ink and punched it out with the bundle To the Point punch!

I popped up the sentiment punch on Stampin’ Dimensionals and added it over the strip.

I added Sunny Day Iridescent Dots embellishments to finish off this first card!

This second card uses the Fruit Salad Sale-a-bration DSP as well but I backed it on a Daffodil Delight CS base.

I cut and flipped and adhered the DSP to the card stock base.

I added a strip of DSP in between the two dsp pieces.

I stamped a different sentiment from the Hugs for Love bundle in Daffodil Delight with a different border around the words from the complimentary stamp set called Bright Borders which is also designed to work with the To the Point Punch from this bundle and popped it up over the center of the strip.
I added Sunny Day Iridescent Dots embellishments to finish this card as well.

The third card uses a Coastal Cabana base.
I also stamped the sentiment in Coastal Cabana to coordinate.

Cut the DSP as before flip and adhere to the card base.

Adhere the strip over where the two pieces of DSP come together.

I popped up the sentiment punch over the strip and added the Sunny Day Iridescent Dots in the blue hue.

This used the sentiment from the Hugs for Love stamp set and the border from the Bright Borders stamp set.

The last card uses the Bloom Impressions Sale-a-bration DSP and colored cardstock for the strip.

Cut the DSP and adhere the bottom piece to the base card.

Flip the smaller piece of DSP and adhere over the larger piece on the top half of the card base.

I used a 1″ x 4″ piece of Flirty Flamingo Colored cardstock over the area where the two pieces of DSP come together. Then I fussy cut both ends of a 3/4″ x 4″ piece of Berry Burst CS and adhered it over the Flirty Flamingo strip.

I stamped the sentiment in Berry Burst ink and punched out the stamped image with the To the Point punch. I popped it up on Stampin’ Dimensionals and placed it int he center of the strips. I added Sunny Day Iridescent Dots to finish off this last quick and easy card!

Try this technique to make designing a sweet DSP card a snap! Now go and create a card with some DSP you have lying around your craft space! Create some artwork – one stamp at a time.

Happy Stampin’
Natalie